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Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Press Play with Madeleine Brand

The promise of immunotherapy

Six years ago, the writer Mary Elizabeth Williams got a terrifying diagnosis. She had melanoma, a deadly skin cancer. It eventually spread to stage 4, and the prognosis was terminal. As a last-ditch effort, Williams joined a clinical trial for a still-novel treatment called immunotherapy .

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By Madeleine Brand • Aug 8, 2016 • 1 min read

Six years ago, the writer Mary Elizabeth Williams got a terrifying diagnosis. She had melanoma, a deadly skin cancer. It eventually spread to stage 4, and the prognosis was terminal. As a last-ditch effort, Williams joined a clinical trial for a still-novel treatment called immunotherapy. And today she is not only alive, but she’s been in complete remission for almost five years. For Williams, immunotherapy has been nothing short of miraculous, but she’s the exception. Most cancers, so far, don’t respond to these new experimental treatments.

Link to Mary Elizabeth’s book

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Madeleine Brand

    Host, 'Press Play'

  • KCRW placeholder

    Barbara Bogaev

    radio journalist

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    Matt Holzman

    Producer, 'The Document'

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    Anna Scott

    Former KCRW Housing and Homelessness Reporter

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    Jolie Myers

    Managing Producer, 'Press Play'

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    Mary Elizabeth Williams

    Salon

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    Jedd Wolchok

    Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

    News
Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand